Living the Golden Rule can only be done by living another ancient mandate: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:28, Luke 10:25). It is one of the oldest commandments about how to live in community.
In Genesis 1 we learn that God created everything, including humankind, and declared “It is good.” In Michelangelo's famous depiction in the Sistine Chapel, we see man reaching toward God's finger in an image reminiscent of the way a baby grasps a parent's finger.
We are each a Beloved Child of the One who created us—the King of Kings. Because of that, we each deserve to be treated as being a Princess or Prince by one another!
Matt. 7:7-11 tells us that God loves us so much that when we, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus asks, “Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matt. 7:7-11 tells us that God loves us so much that when we, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus asks, “Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
In the same way this peacock mom is carefully watching and guiding her chick, (he's there between her feet and the bush), our loving Father gives us what we need. We each yearn to be treated as a Beloved Child, as a Princess or Prince. Too often we don’t believe we are loved by God. That rubs off in the way we treat others. We strive to grab all we can and to be first and “win” and forget that what we “do unto others” comes home to roost in their response to us.The flip side is that when I realize that I’m a beloved child of the King of Kings, I can love myself—no matter what shape or size I am or what I may have done wrong in the past. Through God’s forgiveness I can start anew and live like a true member of the royal family. True royalty does not oppress, but rather eases the load of others. Loving yourself is the place to start living GoldenRule.com.
GoldenRule.com is: believing you are beloved of God.
GoldenRule.com is: believing that God loves you, just as you are.
GoldenRule.com is: loving yourself as God does.
GoldenRule.com is: forgiving yourself for all the little and big mistakes, just like God does.
GoldenRule.com is: letting God bless you.
GoldenRule.com is: asking God for all you need.
GoldenRule.com is: accepting God’s gifts day by day.
GoldenRule.com is: living your life as God’s beloved child—a son or daughter of the King of Kings.
The little kitty certainly is contented and knows he's loved--how often do you feel that way? Start this journey toward living the Golden Rule by doing something nice for yourself.
Maybe it is as simple as telling yourself that you are valued. (Not really as simple as it sounds, sometimes.)
Perhaps it is allowing yourself to take some time to do nothing!
Could be reading that book you’ve been putting off.
Possibly loving yourself means treating yourself to a new outfit or a special meal.
What are some of the ways you love yourself? Don’t you feel more loving toward others when you care for yourself first?
See you next week for Agape Love...
